Backstory

golden clouds edged with light

 

I live my life in widening rings
which spread over earth and sky.
I may not ever complete the last one,
but that is what I will try.
I circle around God’s primordial tower,
and I circle ten thousand years long;
And I still don’t know if I’m a falcon,
a storm, or an unfinished song.

Rainer Maria Rilke, “Book of Hours”
I read this translation of Rilke’s poem for the first time several years ago at the memorial service for a family friend who had finally lost his battle with cancer. Along with the traditional array of photos on display, there were also several excerpts from his journals and some well-loved quotations. I was immediately taken by the imagery and sentiment of this passage and jotted it down on a little piece of scrap paper to bring home with me.

I wish that I had always made nature the focus of my life. I wish that I had always known exactly how meaningful and crucial it would be for me. But, I didn’t…

So, sometimes now I feel like I am racing to take it all in. To see and know as much as I can about… well, EVERYTHING! I am equally intrigued by all things in the natural world — rocks, clouds, water, flowers, trees, fungus, insects, mammals, birds, herps — it makes no difference to me. I find them all fascinating and equally worthy of reverence. I revel in the contemplation, study, and photographic documentation of nearly everything I come across. And for every experience that I have, for every bit of information that I glean, for every puzzle piece I place — there is always more. Every question answered leads to some new line of inquiry. The mysteries of nature never seem to diminish. Instead, they expand infinitely outward.

My journey of ever widening rings is one of joy and fufillment… I look forward to sharing parts of it with you.

Harsi / February 8, 2011 / quotations, skies

Comments

  1. Ro - February 8, 2011 @ 6:21 pm

    I’m right there with ya sister! CLOUDS!!!!! heart!!!!!

    Reply
  2. Ruth - February 8, 2011 @ 8:28 pm

    Breathtaking photo; inspirational words. Delicious appetizer leaves me hungry for more. Congratulations, Harsi!

    Reply
  3. Cindy - February 8, 2011 @ 9:23 pm

    yay! glad to see you have a blog up and running now. Love the photo, and as usual there’s quite an uncanny element too, in that my facebook ‘status’ today was: ‘If your daily life seems poor, do not blame it; blame yourself that you are not poet enough to call forth its riches.’ (Rainer Maria Rilke) Looking forward to some of your ‘riches’ that are always there if we take the time to notice.

    Reply
  4. Harsi - February 8, 2011 @ 9:25 pm

    ~Ro~ So glad you stopped by! I figured you would dig those clouds. I was soooo enjoying the weather today. Sadly, the forecast is claiming clear blue skies until the weekend — I sure hope they’re wrong! ~Ruth~ Your encouragement and praise means the world to me. I’ll do my best to serve up delectable images and satisfying commentary!

    Reply
  5. Harsi - February 8, 2011 @ 9:44 pm

    ~Cindy~ Hey… I must have been posting my responses just as you were posting your comment. Yet another trippy coincidence?! *cue “Twilight Zone” theme music* Hah hah! Seriously though, that is odd… You must have been channeling my Rilke-thoughts. You picked a great quote and it’s a sentiment that I know we both share. In addition to all the special things that nature has to offer, right now I’m counting you three ladies among the riches in my life. You all see the world through eyes that search for and find the beautiful and the wondrous. 🙂

    Reply

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